Jorge Serrano Espinoza, 20, from Clearwater, Florida, has been sentenced to 11 years and three months in federal prison for his involvement in an armed robbery and brandishing a firearm during the crime, as confirmed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
Espinoza was convicted at trial on September 11, 2024, following his role in a robbery of an armored truck. Alongside his co-defendants, James Battle and Carlos Keanu Smith, Espinoza planned the heist on June 9, 2023.
The suspects tracked the armored truck along its route from Pinellas County to Hillsborough County, ultimately following it to a gas station in Ellenton. Toll records and surveillance footage confirmed the vehicle’s proximity to the armored truck.
As the truck driver returned, Battle and Smith, armed with pistols, forced him to the ground while Espinoza served as the lookout. The duo managed to steal more than $150,000 from the truck before fleeing the scene.
The suspects were later identified through surveillance footage, vehicle records, and toll data. Battle received a 10-year sentence, while Smith was sentenced to nine years. Espinoza’s sentence was handed down for his involvement in the robbery and gun use.
